Chipboard is a great new versatile element that you can add to scrapbook pages.
A while ago, I got some chipboard with sayings on them which worked great on some of my layouts, but others didn't work. The colour was wrong, the words weren't right, or something just didn't fit.
Since then, they've come out with blank chipboard embellishments that you can make to fit any layout.
I love the undressed chipboard letters that I just got. They're big enough to use as a main element on your page and come just plain (or undressed) so that I can stamp on them, cover them in paper, paint them, or bedazzle them if I really wanted to.
You can use them in your house to spell out words like Welcome or Spring or any word that you may want to decorate your walls with or you can use them in your scrapbooks, on cards, or calendars.
Your sold, right??
Just wondering where you can get these amazing new embellishments?
Well, chipboard alphabets and diecuts are sold at most scrapbooking or craft stores, but you can also make your own designs, once you've got the right tools.
If you click on this article's title, you'll be forwarded to a site that gives detailed instructions on making your own chipboard alphabets.
Here are a few ideas on where to get chipboard, quoted from http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Embellishments/607.php so you can make your own embellishments:
"Many scrapbook stores have sheets of chipboard that they will give away for free. Packs of paper are often sold with chipboard to keep the paper free from damage, so many stores often have extra sheets that they just discard. Simply ask, and you may find yourself with a pile of free chipboard.
If youÂ’re looking for small pieces, many companies now sell small chipboard shapes. Bazzill Basics, Heidi Swapp, Lil Davis Designs and Making Memories all carry various sizes, shapes and designs of chipboard embellishments.
Most people probably have chipboard at home and donÂ’t realize it. Most any notepad has chipboard for the back cover. The back cover of spiral-bound notebooks are essentially chipboard as well.
If you still canÂ’t find chipboard locally, try searching online at www.ebay.com, www.dickblick.com, or www.vanguardcrafts.com."
They're very versatile and fun; adding dimension and festivity to any craft I undertake.
I would highrecommendend playing with some chipboard. It's inexpensive, fun, and easy.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
New Hang-ups
Think all you've got is glue to attach your favourite photos to a page??
Think again!
There are so many ways to attach all of your elements without even touching a glue stick or messy adhesives.
Step outside of the box and embrace all sorts of ways to hold your pages together.
Here are a few decorative tools you can use to mount your pictures or elements onto your layout:
• brads
• paper hangers
• paper clips
• hinges
• staples
• buttons
• eyelets
These elements are great because they come in an assortment of colours and designs, but if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, you can easily decorate them to fit any page layout or theme.
Simply stamp, paint, ink, or cover them in paper to get the perfect look for your scrapbook.
If that isn't enough, try using some of these fibres to tie, hang, or suspend elements on your pages:
• ribbons
• hemp
• wire
• yarn
• velvet strips
• fabric
These materials are also versatile and add texture and flair to your pages that is sure to please the eye.
Don't get stuck in a glue-stick rut. There are a million tools out there that serve the same purpose and add a unique element of design to your scrapbooks, so keep your eyes peeled.
You never know what they'll come out with next.
Think again!
There are so many ways to attach all of your elements without even touching a glue stick or messy adhesives.
Step outside of the box and embrace all sorts of ways to hold your pages together.
Here are a few decorative tools you can use to mount your pictures or elements onto your layout:
• brads
• paper hangers
• paper clips
• hinges
• staples
• buttons
• eyelets
These elements are great because they come in an assortment of colours and designs, but if you can't find exactly what you're looking for, you can easily decorate them to fit any page layout or theme.
Simply stamp, paint, ink, or cover them in paper to get the perfect look for your scrapbook.
If that isn't enough, try using some of these fibres to tie, hang, or suspend elements on your pages:
• ribbons
• hemp
• wire
• yarn
• velvet strips
• fabric
These materials are also versatile and add texture and flair to your pages that is sure to please the eye.
Don't get stuck in a glue-stick rut. There are a million tools out there that serve the same purpose and add a unique element of design to your scrapbooks, so keep your eyes peeled.
You never know what they'll come out with next.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Fun with slide mounts
Thought you finished with science projects in high school?
Think again.
Scrapbooking is taking a page from your old textbooks and turning it into a craft project.
Slide mounts are appearing in more and more scrapbooks and are catching more eyes than they would under a microscope.
A great way to accentuate the focal point of a picture, slide mounts can also be used to make 3-D embellishments, or to frame journaling or stickers.
These handy little frames highlight aspects of your layout that may otherwise slide by unnoticed and they're nice and thin, so they don't add a lot of bulk to your scrapbook.
They can be inked, stamped, painted, distressed or covered in paper or ribbon to match any layout so don't worry about them matching your layout, you can make them match.
Slide mounts don't have to be used sparingly. Use one or ten on any given page and see what kind of look you like.
Pick out your favourite elements of a photo and make sure everyone sees them the way you do with these handy little frames.
Maybe you want to cut up a few baby pictures to showcase cute fingers, toes, eyes, and ears?
Use the slide mounts to frame a few of your favourite things. Have a picture of yourself as the focal point and then have a few framed photos of scrapbooks, favourite candies, friends, etc.
Try your hand at a fun, crafty science project and see if you still feel the same way about science class.
Think again.
Scrapbooking is taking a page from your old textbooks and turning it into a craft project.
Slide mounts are appearing in more and more scrapbooks and are catching more eyes than they would under a microscope.
A great way to accentuate the focal point of a picture, slide mounts can also be used to make 3-D embellishments, or to frame journaling or stickers.
These handy little frames highlight aspects of your layout that may otherwise slide by unnoticed and they're nice and thin, so they don't add a lot of bulk to your scrapbook.
They can be inked, stamped, painted, distressed or covered in paper or ribbon to match any layout so don't worry about them matching your layout, you can make them match.
Slide mounts don't have to be used sparingly. Use one or ten on any given page and see what kind of look you like.
Pick out your favourite elements of a photo and make sure everyone sees them the way you do with these handy little frames.
Maybe you want to cut up a few baby pictures to showcase cute fingers, toes, eyes, and ears?
Use the slide mounts to frame a few of your favourite things. Have a picture of yourself as the focal point and then have a few framed photos of scrapbooks, favourite candies, friends, etc.
Try your hand at a fun, crafty science project and see if you still feel the same way about science class.
Jewel-Tones
Scrapbooking tends to follow trends similar to the ups and downs of fashion.
Colours, patterns, and textures used in scrapbooking follow the fashion world closely, and the trend right now is modern jewel-tones.
Deep, rich colours are appearing all over scrapbooking magazines and in craft stores. These colours are extremely versatile and are an excellent way to accentuate the rich colours in your pictures.
All shades of brown, fushia, turqoise, emerald, purple, and orange are featured prominently in scrapbooker's supplies and are breathing life into the dull pages of the past.
These colours add an element of gypsy fashion to your layouts and are excellent for shabby chic layouts.
As with anything, the guidelines for how rigidly you want to adhere to trends is quite loose. If you're not sure about jewel-tones, start small with a few embellishments. You can easily mix colours to keep your own style in the forefront while embracing new colours.
Play with a few of these colours and see how they can transform boring pages and bring them to life.
Colours, patterns, and textures used in scrapbooking follow the fashion world closely, and the trend right now is modern jewel-tones.
Deep, rich colours are appearing all over scrapbooking magazines and in craft stores. These colours are extremely versatile and are an excellent way to accentuate the rich colours in your pictures.
All shades of brown, fushia, turqoise, emerald, purple, and orange are featured prominently in scrapbooker's supplies and are breathing life into the dull pages of the past.
These colours add an element of gypsy fashion to your layouts and are excellent for shabby chic layouts.
As with anything, the guidelines for how rigidly you want to adhere to trends is quite loose. If you're not sure about jewel-tones, start small with a few embellishments. You can easily mix colours to keep your own style in the forefront while embracing new colours.
Play with a few of these colours and see how they can transform boring pages and bring them to life.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Creating Cards
Homemade cards are a great way to show people you care.
Remember how you could give your parents anything that you'd made and they'd love it? That wasn't just parental instincts. Everyone loves a gift that comes from the heart and homemade gifts are always the best.
Making cards for those near you is not only a great way to make someone's day, it's also a great way to fine-tune your scrapbooking skills and create something other than a page layout.
Creativity needs to be challenged in order to flourish, so step away from your scrapbook for awhile and make a few cards.
The best way to make cards is to create in bulk.
Be the Costco of card-making.
Why not make a few birthday cards if you have all the supplies out for one all ready?
Think of all the birthdays coming up, mother's day, father's day, weddings, baby showers, etc.
You'll be searching for a card in the not-to-distant-future and will be grateful to find a beautiful, handcrafted card ready to be addressed.
Card-making is also a great way to use up supplies.
If you have a pile of scrap paper that you can't bring yourself to throw away (and why would you?) why not use them on your cards?
Your scraps will be perfect for embellishments, titles, or even the card itself.
If you're like me, you get a lot of scrapbooking presents from people and sometimes it's hard to find a spot for all the stickers, sayings, or other odds and ends that you've accumulated over the years.
Cards are the perfect place to use them.
Got a bunch of Christmas stickers but never seem to take any photos that time of year? Use them up on Christmas Cards. People will love them and you'll use up some supplies.
Cards are fun, fast, and meaningful.
Spend some time on those closest to you and make them a gift from the heart.
Remember how you could give your parents anything that you'd made and they'd love it? That wasn't just parental instincts. Everyone loves a gift that comes from the heart and homemade gifts are always the best.
Making cards for those near you is not only a great way to make someone's day, it's also a great way to fine-tune your scrapbooking skills and create something other than a page layout.
Creativity needs to be challenged in order to flourish, so step away from your scrapbook for awhile and make a few cards.
The best way to make cards is to create in bulk.
Be the Costco of card-making.
Why not make a few birthday cards if you have all the supplies out for one all ready?
Think of all the birthdays coming up, mother's day, father's day, weddings, baby showers, etc.
You'll be searching for a card in the not-to-distant-future and will be grateful to find a beautiful, handcrafted card ready to be addressed.
Card-making is also a great way to use up supplies.
If you have a pile of scrap paper that you can't bring yourself to throw away (and why would you?) why not use them on your cards?
Your scraps will be perfect for embellishments, titles, or even the card itself.
If you're like me, you get a lot of scrapbooking presents from people and sometimes it's hard to find a spot for all the stickers, sayings, or other odds and ends that you've accumulated over the years.
Cards are the perfect place to use them.
Got a bunch of Christmas stickers but never seem to take any photos that time of year? Use them up on Christmas Cards. People will love them and you'll use up some supplies.
Cards are fun, fast, and meaningful.
Spend some time on those closest to you and make them a gift from the heart.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Can't Resist
Nobody can resist learning a new scrapbooking technique; especially when it's a relatively inexpensive, easy-to-learn technique that you can use everywhere.
Resist ink can add a unique element to your scrapbook projects.
If you don't know what resist ink is, put simply, it's anti-ink.
Confused?
Don't be. It's really simple.
You used something similar to resist ink when you were younger, decorating Easter eggs.
First, you draw on the egg with a crayon or some kind of wax, and then dip it into the dye. Everywhere around your drawing would be dyed, but the ink wouldn't stick to the wax.
Resist ink is basically the wax.
If you were to stamp a design on your page with resist ink, and then blot around it with dye, you'd be left with a white outline of the stamp.
While resist ink is great for stamping, you can still use crayons or wax to create the same look.
Try writing your page title with a crayon and then blot an ink pad over your writing. Your title will pop out like a secret message.
You can use this technique almost anywhere. Create embellishments, highlight your doodling, or make your journaling stand out with these resist techniques.
Bonus Tip: If you want to design your own paper, simply crumple a piece of wax paper and then press it between two glossy cardstock pages (glossy side facing in). Iron the paper sandwich and then remove the wax paper and ink both pieces of cardstock. The papers will be marbled and appear texturized.
Easy as pie.
Resist ink can add a unique element to your scrapbook projects.
If you don't know what resist ink is, put simply, it's anti-ink.
Confused?
Don't be. It's really simple.
You used something similar to resist ink when you were younger, decorating Easter eggs.
First, you draw on the egg with a crayon or some kind of wax, and then dip it into the dye. Everywhere around your drawing would be dyed, but the ink wouldn't stick to the wax.
Resist ink is basically the wax.
If you were to stamp a design on your page with resist ink, and then blot around it with dye, you'd be left with a white outline of the stamp.
While resist ink is great for stamping, you can still use crayons or wax to create the same look.
Try writing your page title with a crayon and then blot an ink pad over your writing. Your title will pop out like a secret message.
You can use this technique almost anywhere. Create embellishments, highlight your doodling, or make your journaling stand out with these resist techniques.
Bonus Tip: If you want to design your own paper, simply crumple a piece of wax paper and then press it between two glossy cardstock pages (glossy side facing in). Iron the paper sandwich and then remove the wax paper and ink both pieces of cardstock. The papers will be marbled and appear texturized.
Easy as pie.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A New Twist on Stamping Basics
Stamping is a great way to add an element of design to your scrapbooks.
Stamping is such an old crafting technique, it seems like there's not really much you could do with stamps that would make your pages seem modern.
Wrong!
There are so many uses for stamps, I couldn't possibly list them all in one article.
You can use stamps to create dimension, add colour, fill a space, journal, or even as the focal point of your page.
I know you're remembering the stamps you had as a kid. Once you'd stamped everything you owned with your name, there didn't seem to be much else left to do.
Well, you're much more crafty now, and there are a ton of options to look into.
You can use a basic ink pad for your stamping or you can step it up a notch and colour your stamps with inky felts. This way your image can contain more than one colour... flowers and their stems don't have to be the same colour anymore. You can have red flowers, green stems and leavevs, and a yellow ribbon holding them all together. How nice.
You can also heat emboss your stamped images to give them a raised, smooth look that will make them pop off the page.
You can stamp a pattern all over your backround pages to make your own unique paper. (If you combine this idea with some simple heat embossing, you can make those beautiful pages with the 3-D tecture that are so expensive in craft stores).
However you use your stamps, don't get stuck in an ink pad and rubber stamp rut, there are so many options out there right now, you'd just be limiting yourself.
Stamping is such an old crafting technique, it seems like there's not really much you could do with stamps that would make your pages seem modern.
Wrong!
There are so many uses for stamps, I couldn't possibly list them all in one article.
You can use stamps to create dimension, add colour, fill a space, journal, or even as the focal point of your page.
I know you're remembering the stamps you had as a kid. Once you'd stamped everything you owned with your name, there didn't seem to be much else left to do.
Well, you're much more crafty now, and there are a ton of options to look into.
You can use a basic ink pad for your stamping or you can step it up a notch and colour your stamps with inky felts. This way your image can contain more than one colour... flowers and their stems don't have to be the same colour anymore. You can have red flowers, green stems and leavevs, and a yellow ribbon holding them all together. How nice.
You can also heat emboss your stamped images to give them a raised, smooth look that will make them pop off the page.
You can stamp a pattern all over your backround pages to make your own unique paper. (If you combine this idea with some simple heat embossing, you can make those beautiful pages with the 3-D tecture that are so expensive in craft stores).
However you use your stamps, don't get stuck in an ink pad and rubber stamp rut, there are so many options out there right now, you'd just be limiting yourself.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Fun with Titles
The best attention-getting technique in scrapbooking is a great title.
This is your chance to grab people and draw them in to your scrapbook.
Why not lure your audience in with a few juicy words about your memories.
Here are a few ideas you can use to mix it up when you're designing titles, and keep in mind, the best titles make use of more than one technique.
• use die-cut letters
• throw in some tiny alphabet stickers
• heat emboss your title to make it 3-D
• print it out in a unique font on your computer
• use your own handwriting
• use stencils
• use the negative left over from a die-cut letter
• emboss it with a stylus
There are so many options and the best part is the more creative you get with your titles, the better the outcome.
Grab a scrap piece of paper and design your title keeping in mind the room you have available and the colour scheme you'd like to use.
Once you like your design, make it happen.
Let your creativity inspire you and you'll love the finished project.
This is your chance to grab people and draw them in to your scrapbook.
Why not lure your audience in with a few juicy words about your memories.
Here are a few ideas you can use to mix it up when you're designing titles, and keep in mind, the best titles make use of more than one technique.
• use die-cut letters
• throw in some tiny alphabet stickers
• heat emboss your title to make it 3-D
• print it out in a unique font on your computer
• use your own handwriting
• use stencils
• use the negative left over from a die-cut letter
• emboss it with a stylus
There are so many options and the best part is the more creative you get with your titles, the better the outcome.
Grab a scrap piece of paper and design your title keeping in mind the room you have available and the colour scheme you'd like to use.
Once you like your design, make it happen.
Let your creativity inspire you and you'll love the finished project.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Using up old Supplies
There's nothing more incriminating for a scrapbooker than a huge stash of supplies.
If you've ever declared, "It's just a hobby, I swear," you know where I'm coming from.
You can't pass your addiction off as a hobby if your house is full of paper, stamps, scissors, stickers, and all the other stuff that scrapbookers love to accumulate.
The best way to thin out your hordings is to do a little spring cleaning.
Get rid of those funky papers you've had forever and that stamp that got stuck years ago, you're never going to use them.
Why not thin out your supplies and make room for all the cool new stuff coming out daily?
A great idea to get rid of some of your unwanted supplies is to hold a scrap n' swap. It's just like a rummage sale held for you and your fellow scrappers.
Scrapbooking is very personal. While you may favour browns and greens, someone else loves the look of pastels. Why not trade so you can both go home with new supplies? You never know which one of your friends may find your discards a treasure.
Another idea for old supplies is to sell them on eBay.
You can buy anything online now, why not add your discards to the melting pot? They're cluttering up your precious scrapping space, so get rid of them and make some money.
If this sounds like too much hassle, and you're the kind of spring cleaner who just wants to get rid of their discards and be done with it, why not donate your supplies to a school, church, after school program, or a shelter that offers classes for kids?
Make your discards disappear and come home feeling warm and fuzzy. What a great way to help out in your community.
These are just a few ideas for all of you thinking of cleaning up your supplies and making those incriminating piles shrink.
Spring cleaning will help organize your workspace and reduce clutter saving you time and energy so you can enjoy your 'hobby'.
If you've ever declared, "It's just a hobby, I swear," you know where I'm coming from.
You can't pass your addiction off as a hobby if your house is full of paper, stamps, scissors, stickers, and all the other stuff that scrapbookers love to accumulate.
The best way to thin out your hordings is to do a little spring cleaning.
Get rid of those funky papers you've had forever and that stamp that got stuck years ago, you're never going to use them.
Why not thin out your supplies and make room for all the cool new stuff coming out daily?
A great idea to get rid of some of your unwanted supplies is to hold a scrap n' swap. It's just like a rummage sale held for you and your fellow scrappers.
Scrapbooking is very personal. While you may favour browns and greens, someone else loves the look of pastels. Why not trade so you can both go home with new supplies? You never know which one of your friends may find your discards a treasure.
Another idea for old supplies is to sell them on eBay.
You can buy anything online now, why not add your discards to the melting pot? They're cluttering up your precious scrapping space, so get rid of them and make some money.
If this sounds like too much hassle, and you're the kind of spring cleaner who just wants to get rid of their discards and be done with it, why not donate your supplies to a school, church, after school program, or a shelter that offers classes for kids?
Make your discards disappear and come home feeling warm and fuzzy. What a great way to help out in your community.
These are just a few ideas for all of you thinking of cleaning up your supplies and making those incriminating piles shrink.
Spring cleaning will help organize your workspace and reduce clutter saving you time and energy so you can enjoy your 'hobby'.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Scrappin' With Kids
One of the best ways to spend time with your kids is doing something you both enjoy.
Why not steer your kids away from the television and get their creativity pumping by introducing them to the wonderful world of scrapbooking??
Just think of all the great things that can come from this....
First, as I mentioned earlier, you're inspiring creativity.
What a great facet for those creative juices that all kids have.
Second, it's a great way to spend time together.
Sometimes, things get so hectic, we forget about the precious things in life, why not bump them up on your list of priorities?
Third, what a great way to use all those old papers and scraps that you've had forever.
Can't find a use for a crazy set of stickers you bought on sale? Looking for a use for that neon pink paper you bought ten years ago? Kids love wild colours and outlandish elements.
Fourth, what a great way to gain some insight into your children's lives?
Learn their favourite colours, laugh at their stories, and enjoy their youthful approach to scrapbooking. Maybe you'll even learn a thing or two.
What can it hurt?
If you have kids, great, get them involved. If not, why not see about teaching a class in your community? You will not only learn things about them, but about yourself as well.
Why not steer your kids away from the television and get their creativity pumping by introducing them to the wonderful world of scrapbooking??
Just think of all the great things that can come from this....
First, as I mentioned earlier, you're inspiring creativity.
What a great facet for those creative juices that all kids have.
Second, it's a great way to spend time together.
Sometimes, things get so hectic, we forget about the precious things in life, why not bump them up on your list of priorities?
Third, what a great way to use all those old papers and scraps that you've had forever.
Can't find a use for a crazy set of stickers you bought on sale? Looking for a use for that neon pink paper you bought ten years ago? Kids love wild colours and outlandish elements.
Fourth, what a great way to gain some insight into your children's lives?
Learn their favourite colours, laugh at their stories, and enjoy their youthful approach to scrapbooking. Maybe you'll even learn a thing or two.
What can it hurt?
If you have kids, great, get them involved. If not, why not see about teaching a class in your community? You will not only learn things about them, but about yourself as well.
Monday, April 03, 2006
archival safe scrapbooking
Scrapbooking can be a time consuming, expensive hobby.
The mementos that you have when you're finished make up for any time or money you may have spent, but you want to ensure that these keepsakes can be treasured for years.
By using only archival safe products, you can ensure the safety of your scrapbooks.
The key is to use lignin-free and acid-free products.
These products are the most commonly advertised products fro scrapbooking, but there are other things to keep in mind.
Ensure that your page protectors are PVC-free; PVC releases fumes that can destroy pictures and even paper that you use in scrapbooking.
Use ink that is permanent and safe, gel pens are a good option.
Also keep in mind where your photos were stored before you put them in your scrapbook.
Magnetic albums, or the albums with tacky pages and plastic overlays, have been proven to be harmful to your pictures. Your photos may begin to discolor or become brittle in time if stored in a magnetic album.
Even if you remove the photos and there's some tacky residue left on the back of the photo, it could ruin your page layout as well as your picture.
By keeping these things in mind when you're scrapbooking, you can help ensure that your keepsakes last.
The mementos that you have when you're finished make up for any time or money you may have spent, but you want to ensure that these keepsakes can be treasured for years.
By using only archival safe products, you can ensure the safety of your scrapbooks.
The key is to use lignin-free and acid-free products.
These products are the most commonly advertised products fro scrapbooking, but there are other things to keep in mind.
Ensure that your page protectors are PVC-free; PVC releases fumes that can destroy pictures and even paper that you use in scrapbooking.
Use ink that is permanent and safe, gel pens are a good option.
Also keep in mind where your photos were stored before you put them in your scrapbook.
Magnetic albums, or the albums with tacky pages and plastic overlays, have been proven to be harmful to your pictures. Your photos may begin to discolor or become brittle in time if stored in a magnetic album.
Even if you remove the photos and there's some tacky residue left on the back of the photo, it could ruin your page layout as well as your picture.
By keeping these things in mind when you're scrapbooking, you can help ensure that your keepsakes last.
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